Jockey Napravnik nears track return

NEW YORK – Rosie Napravnik plans to resume serious riding next weekend, making a swift return from a shoulder injury suffered last month.

Napravnik took an important step Saturday at Belmont Park, exercising five horses for trainer Mike Maker. It’s the first time in the saddle since separating her shoulder after a workout spill at Churchill Downs on June 16.

Joe Sharp, Napravnik’s husband, is the assistant trainer supervising Maker’s New York division.

“Feeling good after breezing five this morning,” Napravnik said on Twitter. “First day back at the track.”

Even with lost time because of the injury, the 26-year-old Napravnik still ranks eighth nationally in purse earnings with $6.4 million. Her biggest victory this season was aboard Untapable in the Kentucky Oaks.

Belmont record set

NEW YORK – Clearly Now won the $400,000 Belmont Sprint Championship on Saturday, beating Palace by 6 ¼ lengths in a record time.

The 4-year-old trained by Brian Lynch ran seven furlongs in 1:19.96 on the fast track, erasing the mark of 1:20.17 set by Left Bank in 2002. Jose Lezcano was aboard as Clearly Now got his fifth win in 15 starts, paying $6.40 to win.

• Also on Saturday, Mr Speaker pulled a 23-1 upset in the $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational for 3-year-olds on the turf.

The Belmont Derby, formerly known as the Jamaica Handicap, was the richest of five stakes on the inaugural “Stars and Stripes Day” at Belmont Park. Lezcano was aboard for trainer Shug McGaughey as Mr Speaker got his fourth victory in nine stars, paying $49 to win. The time was 2:01.18 for the 1 ¼ miles on the course rated good.

• Kid Cruz beat stablemate Captain Serious by three-quarters of a length in the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes for 3-year-olds at Belmont, his fifth win in eight starts.

Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Shared Belief ran his first race on dirt, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.01 and paying $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10 as the 7-10 favorite. Smith was aboard for the first time for co-owner and sports talk host Jim Rome.

Among the 3-year-old gelding’s other owners are Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and Alex Solis II, the son of the Hall of Fame jockey.

Shared Belief, last year’s champion 2-year-old, has won his races by a combined 28 3/4 lengths. The victory, worth $300,000, increased his career earnings to $772,200.